Emmaus to make Saratoga debut in Fourstardave

Irish-bred Emmaus, trained and co-owned by Conor Murphy with M and J Thoroughbreds, will make his Saratoga debut in Saturday's loaded Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave.

The 6-year-old Invincible Spirit gelding was purchased for more than $650,000 by China Horse Club at the 2015 Goffs Orby Yearling sale and won his debut in September 2016 by a neck at Leicester for then trainer Roger Varian. His lone sophomore start was a nose score in the Wreake Handicap again at Leicester.

Emmaus made the first three starts of his 4-year-old season in group company, including a fourth in the Group 3 Prix Quincey Barriere in Deauville before completing the campaign with a narrow nose loss in the Racing UK EBF Stallions Guisborough at Redcar, where he dwelt at the start.

Murphy traveled overseas for the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale and spent $253,505 to bring Emmaus to the U.S. as a racing prospect.

"They'd paid a nice price for him as a yearling and he won impressively first time out, so I knew the horse but I never really considered him for the states," said Murphy. "I went over to the sale in Newmarket and even though he was one of the highest rated horses in the sale, I didn't have him high on my list as his best form was over soft going."

Soft turf is often hard to find in North America, but Murphy said he felt the horse could prove his worth on Woodbine's expansive turf course, where he'd had similar luck with European purchase Dimension, who captured three graded races at the Rexdale oval.

"When I saw him, he was a beautiful-looking horse. His best form was on soft turf but he's such a good moving horse," said Murphy. "We liked him a lot and I bought him thinking he'd fit Woodbine more than anywhere else."

Emmaus made his North American debut in April 2019 with a strong second in the Elusive Quality at Belmont, which led to a trio of starts around one turn at Woodbine, including a second over firm going in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, a fourth in the King Edward (G2) and a troubled sixth in the Woodbine Mile (G1).

Seeking class relief, Emmaus comfortably handled an allowance field at Keeneland traveling 1 1/16-miles in October and ended a lengthy campaign with an off-the-board effort in the River City Handicap (G3) in November at Churchill Downs.

Emmaus captured a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming event at Fair Grounds in February to launch his 6-year-old campaign and has since finished fifth in the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill and fifth again last out in the Makers Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland when defeated a length by War of Will.

Murphy said a chance to try two turns with his well-traveled runner made the Fourstardave enticing, though he will have to topple a field that includes Grade/Group 1-winners Raging Bull, Got Stormy, Uni, Valid Point and Without Parole.

"Unfortunately, when you have nicer horses you have to run against tough opposition, but it's nice to have a couple nice ones in the barn," said Murphy. "He ended up proving last year at Woodbine that he can handle firm going. He's a grand horse and a lovely horse to be around, but I think the two turns will be important to him."

Murphy said that after performing well without winning around one turn in his Woodbine races, Emmaus will benefit from a chance to settle and pounce around two turns.

"He ran a lot up at Woodbine last year, but we always felt he would be more suited to a two-turn mile race," said Murphy. "Even though he's won twice going a mile and a sixteenth, when he gets into that stakes company it stretches him a little bit. I do think the two-turn flat mile will suit him better."

Last out, Emmaus landed fifth at odds of 41-1 in the Maker's Mark Mile in a tight finish that saw Fourstardave rivals Raging Bull in third and Without Parole in fourth.

"It's a very tough race Saturday, but he ran a big race last time and only got beat a length," said Murphy. "I know it was a blanket finish, but I think he deserves another shot to see how he fares.

"With Halladay and Got Stormy in there, I think there should be a hot enough pace on Saturday," added Murphy. "I'd imagine our lad will be sitting close behind the leaders. It's as good as the Breeders' Cup Mile with the top horses in there, but our horse has done nothing wrong and he deserves a chance. He doesn't know what price he is."

Emmaus will mark Murphy's first starter at Saratoga, although the Irish-born conditioner did bring maiden Alfons Walde to Saratoga last summer.

"I brought one up last year to run in a maiden and it came off the grass. So, we left him there for the next one and he was an also eligible," Murphy said with a laugh.

Emmaus, listed at 15-1 on the morning line, will exit post 3 under Jose Lezcano in the Fourstardave.